Inter-County Championship 2008–09

Under 150

There was some interesting chess played at the Notts v Leics match. How could there not be in conditions
compact of ham sandwiches, cookies, Yorkshires filled with vegetable chilli, cheese puffs, and all manner
of viaticum. Mark Radford's kettle sung sweetly as it boiled. The pieces were pushed around with exquisite
flicks and thumps.

Bob Taylor appeared to have a lovely position from the beginning. His pieces were emphatically placed in
the middle game, a configuration which brought to mind the word 'strident'. So much so, that I walked away
from the board repeating the word, only to underscore it inwardly with mental prosodic emphasis when I fell
upon Keith Brameld's game in which Keith, playing white, with casual deftness, mopped up his opponent's position,
coring it out, pummelling it, blighting and searing it, with a sequence of moves so absurdly punitive in their
incremental build up that, when uncorked, the world almost seemed to stop for the short amount of time it
takes to deliver and utter checkmate.

I caught the end stages of Stan Cramner's game. Stan was material up. Connected, unimpeded pawns sharking
towards the milk and honey which is freely and copiously available on tap on the eight rank. But let me cut a
tale short. Stan converted his advantages with fluid skill, arriving splendidly in the world of milk and honey.
Meanwhile, Marcel Taylor was in a zinging end game, the exchange up (oh the exchange). That said, and I mean
it - despite my piffling and criminally scant knowledge of the late phase of the game - it was still a
brain-thumpingly awkward position to prosecute successfully. And yet, and yet, Marcel, with considerable
chessic alembics, did just that - a signal, signal victory much needed by the Notts.

A word must be said about the game of Will Place. One noun phrase encapsulates it: a classic. It's hard
enough being captain (what with knowing which biscuits to choose for the team, thoughts such as is the kettle
capacious enough, will the away team balk at the sight of a Yorkshire pudding bumpered with chilli, and similar
testing sequila), but to bash out a mental gem with such seeming insouciance is a feat. A feat. It was perfect
Place all along: you know the essential signs, the thumbprint of his swingeing opening, the pieces gathering
to within less than a pawn swipe of the opposing monarch - will nothing but regicide in mind. There followed
a sweet exchange sacrifice which all but hamstrung, drawn and quartered his opponent, whose hapless Sicilian
was bottled in and shiftless it looked - as though its creator were not making but unmaking moves. Then there
was a subtle check which, in the post-match analysis I overlooked, couldn't see (it wasn't there - only a
Place could find) led to a finish of such graphic emphasis that even someone who didn't know the rules of the
game would have known that, without giving it a second glance or knowing which piece did what, that white had
won, won, won. Will won. We won.

Sadly dear readers your second report does not contain any of the rumbustious narrative of the previous
article. It wil not scintillate and grip you with its Dickensesque descriptions or joy; but what do you
expect of a lowly engineer!

Will's report

I was able seeing quite a lot of most people's games. Although like everyone at one end of the room I
struggled as the dark of the evening drew upon us and realised there were very few working lights or indeed
light bulbs! I have chosen to write a brief account of the boards not already written about.

Board 1:

Saw Brian Thompson face very young talented opposition. His opponent had a large time advantage which
was probably the deciding factor in what was a fairly balanced position around the time control. Sadly a mistake
at about move 36 meant that his opponent was able to gain the upper hand.

Board 2:

Kev gained a decisive space advantage in the middle game in a Faulkbeer Counter Gambit game. His opponent
missed a neat tactic in the late middle game and dropped a piece - and yet his opponent stilled threatened to
perpetual check. Kev wisely swapped off the pieces to avoid this but unfortunately it ended in a king and
'wrong coloured' bishop plus rook's pawn vs king. And so it was his opponent was extremely lucky to escape with
a draw.

Board 3:

Brian Hayward faced a problem with his King trapped in the centre early in the middle game. Somehow he
managed unravel his pieces and castle. His opponent generated a lot of play and was with in an inch of
checkmating. However Brian remained calm - and avoided the mate with a clever move order that I think his
opponent overlooked. It all came down to an endgame with Brian valiantly fighting on in a lost position to try
and gain Nottingham a crucial half point. Sadly it was not to be.

Board 5:

Drag reverted to a modern set-up and his opponent missed the chance to exploit an early mistake. However
Drag slowly unravelled his pieces (in true modern style) and had a pleasant position around move 10. But
sadly drag made a mistake and was forced to sacrifice the exchange to generate compensation. Unfortunately it
wasn't quite enough.

Board 6:

Tim went a piece up quite early on in the game but the extra piece was trapped on the edge of the board
for about 20 minutes as his opponent went all in on the attack against Tim's king. There was a nerve racking
(for spectators anyhow!) time scramble in which Tim showed his pedigree to neutralise his opponents attack.
The endgame saw the appearance of the extra piece and the game followed shortly after.

Board 7:

Winner of the craziest game award! It was an all out tactical battle in which both players probably had
winning chances. Thankfully Stephen prevailed and got Nottingham a crucial early victory.

Board 8:

When I saw this game Daniel was a few pawns down but generating an attack and the complexities meant
his opponent's clock was running down dramatically. I think this was probably the reason it ended as a draw
- although I might be wrong.

Board 11:

Whilst Mark's kettle sang sweetly his game seemed fairly good as well! He was a pawn up but in a tricky
endgame he wasn't able to convert the slight material advantage and it ended as a draw.

Board 13:

John was a pawn down when I saw (R+B+6P vs R+N+7P); his opponent's knight seemed more effective than
John's bishop and it sadly resulted in a loss for Nottinghamshire.

Board 15:

Phil Morgan, who gallantly stepped in for the ill Neil Graham at the last moment, had a tricky game. He
ended up two pawns down in a rook and bishop endgame but fought very hard and reduced the deficit to a mere
pawn. Sadly it still wasn't enough to prevent his opponent from converting the point.

Board 16:

There was interesting battle on the bottom board - one which I couldn't follow all that easily I have to
be honest. In the end Oliver's opponent had very strong pawns which were threatening to march up the board at
an unstoppable rate - in the end a loss for Nottingham.

We would both like to thank Phil Morgan for stepping in at the last minute. And to remind everyone to try
and keep the 7th March free for our crucial last group stage game against Warwickshire.

Nottinghamshire U150 – Leicestershire U15010 January 2009

Board

Grade

Grade

1

Brian Thompson

148

0–1

Brandon Clarke

147

2

Kevin Harvey

147

½–½

Sean Hewitt

149

3

Brian Hayward

144

0–1

David Farrall

144

4

Will Place

143

1–0

Alan Jex

142

5

Drag Sudar

142

0–1

Michael Cowley

139

6

Tim Lane

138

1–0

James Bingham

139

7

Stephen Foster

138

1–0

Phil Watkinson

140

8

Daniel Lin

137

½–½

Iain Dodds

137

9

Stanley Cranmer

128

1–0

Paul Deacon

136

10

Bob Taylor

127

1–0

RF (Bob) Collins

135

11

Mark Radford

126

½–½

Steven Turvey

133

12

Keith Brameld

125

1–0

Steve Wylie

130

13

John Tassi

123

0–1

Christopher Tipper

129

14

Marcel Taylor

121

1–0

Karl Potter

129

15

Phil Morgan

119

0–1

John Pattinson

128

16

Oliver Taylor

UG

0–1

Graham Booley

127

8½–7½

Nottinghamshire U150 – Staffordshire U150

Will Place

This was a weakened Nottinghamshire team, primarily owing to the attractions of the Scarborough Congress, and Staffordshire were the stronger team on paper.

Brian Hayward's game was the first to finish, ending in a draw, and it gave him the chance to observe some of the other games. The following is an account by Brian Hayward, Kevin and myself.

Norman Davies was next to finish with a fine win, followed by a draw for Benny Lim.

Benny Lim's game was an usual one, which seemed one moment to fizz with attacking potential, the next fraught with the dangers of over extension. The pawns in front of Benny's king were way ahead front, and Benny was compelled to march the monarch up the board to catch them up. A type of sitzkrieg ensued in which a draw was the most likely (and was the) outcome.

There next ensued more draws for Dave Flynn and Will Place (I kept offering several poisoned and not so poisoned pawns against my opponents French, however he wisely declined on several occasions. The game only reached 19 moves where it promised to open up, but with less than ten minutes on my clock I accepted my opponents draw. Graham Gibson's bishop pair was insufficient for being the exchange down and the outcome was a loss. After six results the match was even at 3 points each. Then Kevin Harvey drew, whilst Keith Brameld lost. Shortly afterwards, John Collins played a lovely game - handling with aplomb his opponent's choice of the Modern Benoni. Black's king stepped into the f file, only for John to cluster his pieces, and the biggies at that (queen, rook et al), in the porous placement of the black monarch. A white bishop on the lancinating, board-splitting a2-g8 diagonal, a bishop to die for, was a perpetual proverbial thorn in the side for black, who suffered indeed. Next there was a draw for Phil Court. After ten results the match remained even.

The remaining boards looked reasonably good for Notts. John Tassi & Marcel Taylor had material advantages. Steve Hunter's game looked even. Neil Graham and Graeme Jennings were pressing, but Drags game was difficult to assess.

Steve Hunter drew and there was a flurry of results after two hours play with Marcel winning, Neil drawing and Drags rook sacrifice being refuted. The match was tied at 7 points each. John Tassi was a pawn up in a rook and pawn ending, and Graeme Jennings was two pawns up although his king was vulnerable.

After another 45 minutes John Tassi agreed a draw, having battled terrifically to try and get a full point for Notts. He had a R+3P vs R+2P which was a technical draw. John continued his with three pawn venture, seeking the promised land of the first rank. Alas and alack a draw was played out and hence a draw it was.

So this left the match dependent on the outcome of the final game. A win for either side won the match for their team.

Graeme Jennings fought tremendously and appeared to have a smashing attack hurling up the h file with regicide in mind. The dark-squared bishop at g7 was lopped off - the scene set for carnage (the type that brings us back to the board). And yet, and yet, somehow Graeme's opponent was able to extricate himself from the lovely aggression and generate his own threats on the queenside. Graeme who was two pawns up, had to fend off a swingeing attack, which saw his king drawn in to the open board, rudely assaulted by black's minor - but potently choreographed - pieces. In the end, white lost material and, despite, a spirited and ingenious attempt at counter play, resigned.

So Staffordshire narrowly won 8.5 - 7.5. I would like to add Kevin's and my thanks to everyone who played, and to Brian Hayward, Drag Sudar and of course Neil Graham, who helped during and prior to the match.

Our next game is on Saturday 15th November - please keep your diaries free!

Nottinghamshire U150 – Staffordshire U15025 October 2008

Board

Grade

Grade

1

Kevin Harvey

147

½–½

Philip Porter

145

2

Brian Hayward

144

½–½

David Daniels

144

3

Will Place

143

½–½

John Staniforth

142

4

Drag Sudar

143

0–1

Frank Wood

141

5

Graeme Jennings

141

0–1

Diarmid Gibson

138

6

Steve Hunter

138

½–½

Steve Hill

137

7

John Collins

137

1–0

Martin May

137

8

Neil Graham

135

½–½

Peter Leary

136

9

Keith Brameld

125

0–1

Ben Zicha

135

10

John Tassi

123

½–½

Mike Groombridge

131

11

Norman Davies

122

1–0

Derek Perks

130

12

Marcel Taylor

121

1–0

William Rea

129

13

Phil Court

120

½–½

Alan Thomason

117

14

Dave Flynn

120

½–½

Max Wooton

116

15

Graham Gibson

116

0–1

Geof Lee

113

16

Benny Lim

109

½–½

Ken Francis

110

7½–8½

Greater Manchester U150 – Nottinghamshire U150

Will Place

The venue for Nottingham's second match was one of many pubs in the market town of Leek. We knew that anything other than a win would surely be curtains for chances of progressing after the narrow loss to Staffordshire the previous month.

Things got off to a good start with a win for the two Notts captains. Were we leading by good example or just eager to sample some fine bitters in the bar downstairs? My game saw a pleasing Rook for pawn sacrifice to which my opponent resigned - it was an unstoppable mate in 12. This, I must be honest, is Fritz's analysis - I just thought it looked quite flashy! Kev's opponent played the Sicilian and never really looked very comfortable. It culminated in a massive space and development lead for Kev and one which he converted with great aplomb.

Sadly it wasn't too much longer before Mark and Neil both lost. Neil's aggressive start back-fired and he ended up losing the exchange when his opponent trapped his Rook on f8 with a Bishop on a3. Sadly Neil wasn't able to muster any counter play and ended up with a hemmed in bishop on h8. For all intense and purposes a Rook down Neil resigned. The score was now 2-2.

Debutant Oliver Taylor and Brian T restored Nottingham's lead shortly thereafter. Oliver mounting considerable pressure down the b-file, which ended in a neat tactic which his opponent overlooked. Brian was winning and then losing pawns left right and centre, but his opponent tried a back rank mate tactic, which Brian smartly side-stepped, and his opponent was left two pawns down with out a chance. 4-2.

There then followed a smart win for Keith and a loss for John Tassi. John seemed to have been a Q for 2 N + 1 P down at some point but without much compensation. 5-3.

Marcel then lost, reducing our lead to just one point only for Tim to restore it. The ever reliable Mr Lane seemed to have a comfortable win; when I saw it he was three pawns up in a Rook and pawn endgame. 6-4.

The eleventh game couldn't be decided with both players having to settle for half a point. Stephen Foster's opponent had been a pawn up but it was an IQP and Stephen seemed to be generating some counter-play against it so a draw seemed a fair result. Brian H also drew his game, which must have been the most complex of the day. His opponent forced the swap off of several pieces in such a way as to leave Brian a pawn up but with doubled pawns on the e-file. His opponent had moved his King out of the firing line to f1, but this left him with a Rook stil at home for most of the game on h1. There ensued a mad time scramble (mostly on Brian's part!) to reach the control. Brian probably missed a win but fought well to narrowly beat his own flag to reach the safe haven of move 36. The position at the time control left Brian facing checkmate in one move on h7 but with chances of mating his opponent first! In the end a draw seemed fair to both players. 7-5.

Nottingham's side was bolstered by the return of two old stalwarts in the form of Stan and Bob. Stan won his game (At one point I believe it was 3P + B vs 4P) and Bob sealed the match with a solid draw. 8.5-5.5.

Jonathan held his nerve to convert his game. And Norman sadly made a miscalculation right at the end, to lose a game he had clawed his way back into. He had been two pawns down in a Queen and pawn endgame, but a cunningly positioned Queen on Normans part, threatened to win back both pawns whilst threatening checkmate on the back rank. Final score 9.5-6.5 to Nottingham. Thanks to all you who played, and a special thanks to Mark, Stephen and Neil for getting the troops there. Remember to keep the 10th of January free!!

Greater Manchester U150 – Nottinghamshire U15015 November 2008

Board

Grade

Grade

1

Chris Jardine

143

0–1

Brian Thompson

148

2

Alan Beresford

141

0–1

Kev Harvey

147

3

J Murphy

½–½

Brian Hayward

144

4

Jon Lonsdale

136

0–1

Will Place

143

5

Mitchell Burke

133

½–½

Stephen Foster

138

6

David Pardoe

133

0–1

Tim Lane

138

7

Matthew Pollard

127

1–0

Neil Graham

135

8

Thomas Clements

125

0–1

Jonathan Day

130

9

Nathan Gittens

124

0–1

Stan Cranmer

128

10

Dave Kierman

117

½–½

Bob Taylor

127

11

Sam Towse

113

1–0

Mark Radford

126

12

Ray Sumner

113

0–1

Keith Brameld

125

13

David Connolly

107

1–0

John Tassi

123

14

Jade Stirrup

96

1–0

Norman Davies

122

15

L Moore

96

1–0

Marcel Taylor

121

16

Damian McCarthy

105

0–1

Oliver Taylor

UG

6½–9½

Under 125

Two of our players (no names, no pack drill) arrived about 20 minutes late, but at least we were then all
present. Worcs defaulted after an hour on Board 8, so Keith Roper was unlucky not to get a game. Barry Redburn
drew and Stuart Swift lost both quite quickly. I won comfortably (got a decent game out of the opening for a
change) and Phil Morgan had a nice mating finish. Then draws on Boards 6, 9, 11 and 13, a loss on 10 and a win
by John Tassi on Board 2. That left five games that went to the wire with the score 6.5-4.5 in Notts favour:
Ray Sayer was two pawns to the good and won, Graham Gibson was in a drawn endgame (R + P v R + P) but his
opponent took some time to offer the draw, which was accepted. 8-5 to us and victory on board count. Just
as well as Worcs won the last three games Boards 15, 3 and 4. It turned out afterwards that the rule on
fewer defaults gave us the match but Board Count would have done as well. We were out graded by over 5 grading
points a board on average, so a very good win for Notts.

The final will be played on 21st March v Warks at Barkby Village Hall, 19 Beeby Road, Barkby, Leics, LE7
3QB. The 3rd place play-off Lincs v Worcs will take place at the same time and venue. Play is from 1:30 to
5:30pm.